Literary Agent Irene Kraas hopes that publishers will soon be giving authors a bigger piece of the digital pie. In this interview, she tells us how to get her attention with a query and how her accepted submissions have been changing.
Can you tell us why you're someone's best choice as an agent?
Are you kidding? No explanation is needed.
How should a new writer try to query you? And what do you hate when people put in a query?
I require the first 10 pages of a completed manuscript. They must be embedded in an email. I do not open attachments . . . Make sure you address me - I do not open emails that are addressed to 'Dear Agent.'
What have you been doing to weather this bad economic time? What advice would you give writers in the same position? I tried to weed out submissions until I feel I have the very, very best. Authors can write in the standard genres, but need to come out with truly unique ideas. Obviously, the work should be well-written!
What kinds of books are editors looking for now? What do you really like to see?
It's hard to tell what editors are looking for - mainly because, unless it's something so outstanding [that] the genre doesn't matter, most of the things that are already out are not what they are looking for. They want to see something new. I am looking for wonderful works in most genres. Go to my website to see what I am looking for: www.kraasliteraryagency.com . . . . I specifically want works like The Kite Runner , Under 1,000 Suns, The Red Tent, Girl With a Pearl Earring , etc.
How important do you think ebooks will end up being?
Although I think the impact is small at the moment, this is definitely a market that will be growing. Unfortunately, at the moment, publishers are taking advantage of the authors by giving them a truly small split of the current sales. Hopefully that will change down the road.
Do you mind telling us a fun fact about yourself?
I love to eat - and I'm constantly dieting. I love New York Theater, (when it's good it's the best in the world), and I love opera.
Follow Jeff Rivera on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrjeffrivera
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